Texans and Steelers Look to Prove Their Dominance on Monday Night’s Wild Card Showdown
Monday, January 12th, airs the final NFL Wild Card matchup before the Divisional Round between the Houston Texans, heading to Pittsburgh to take on the Steelers. Both the Texans and the Steelers are looking to prove their dominance in this year’s playoffs after an up-and-down season that has defied how tough these franchises are despite all the odds. Houston lost the AFC South Division title for the first time in three years, while the 12-5 Texans were one game behind the Jacksonville Jaguars within the division due to Houston’s poor start to the season. However, the Texans won their last nine games of the regular season, with one of the best defenses in the league, and a quarterback in C.J. Stroud who's ready to prove he can take this team to the next level. For the Steelers, they grabbed the AFC North after defeating the Baltimore Ravens in one of the craziest games of the regular season, which resulted in the Ravens firing their head coach of 18 seasons. Pittsburgh’s future Hall of Fame quarterback, Aaron Rodgers, is looking to keep the miracles flowing and keep the Steelers’ hopes and his career continuing. Who will prove their the better team and advance to the Divisional Round?
The Houston Texans’ season changed for the better in Week 10 when they defeated the Jags 36-29. Since that win, they picked up eight additional victories with huge wins over AFC playoff teams such as the Buffalo Bills and the Los Angeles Chargers. Houston’s defense is one of the best in the league, entering this matchup ranked first in defense efficiency and second in total defense by points/yards allowed. Pro Bowl defensive stars such as Will Anderson, Danielle Hunter, and Derek Stingley Jr. have the skills and IQ to change Rodgers’ game plan and make him second-guess his throws, timing, and overall offensive attack. While Stroud hasn’t had as productive a year as his previous two seasons, he is still a huge piece to the success of this franchise. With 3,041 passing yards and 19 touchdowns in a career-low 14 games, the 24-year-old quarterback has shown he can lead this team going forward. A nine-game win streak to end the season, and Houston making the NFL Playoffs the past three seasons with Stroud at the helm, proves this Texans team will be a viable playoff threat now and for years to come.
For Pittsburgh, the biggest news coming out of the franchise is that they reinstated wide receiver D.K. Metcalf after a two-game suspension. The Steelers could have desperately used their two-time Pro Bowl wide receiver in that Week 18 thriller against the Ravens. Yet, they get a version of Metcalf who’s had plenty of time to rest, recover, watch film, and practice his game in pursuit of a deep playoff run or even a Super Bowl Championship. With the 28-year-old receiver on the field, this makes future Hall of Fame quarterback Rodgers have an easier job. For the Steelers’ 42-year-old quarterback, he has veteran options like Marquez Valdes-Scantling and Adam Thielen, in addition to having a reliable tight end in Pat Freiermuth and a Super Bowl Champion running back on the squad in Kenneth Gainwell. Then, 26-year-old receiver Calvin Austin III helped turn the tide in Pittsburgh’s win over Baltimore with a last-minute touchdown to give the Steelers the lead. If the Steelers’ offense, led by a future Hall of Fame quarterback, can outwit the Texans’ formidable defense, Pittsburgh could win this Wild Card Round matchup.
This matchup will heavily focus on Pittsburgh’s offense vs. Houston’s defense. The Texans have the possibility of shutting down the legendary Rodgers’ career and establishing a new chapter in NFL history. If Houston’s defense starts out strong from the get-go and continues its dominance through all four quarters, the Texans will come out on top in this matchup. However, if Rodgers can rally this offense to a scoring barrage, not only does this tire out Houston’s defense, but it makes Stroud play a game of catch-up on the offensive end. The connections between Rodgers and Metcalf, or Rodgers to Freiermuth, will be important during this matchup, especially if Pittsburgh wants to move forward.
The Texans will come out on top of this game, 23-20 over the Steelers in Pittsburgh. Houston’s defense is too strong and has too many threats for Rodgers to possibly handle. The Steelers quarterback will have to play the best game of his career at 42 years old in order for Pittsburgh to advance. Stroud will show why he’s a quarterback of the now and the future and look to push this Texans team further in the grasp of a Super Bowl appearance.
